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Foolow Home > Foolow Village > Foolow Walks > Foolow – Housley – Castlegate Farm – Wardlow – Cressbrook Dale – Wardlow Mires – Housley – Foolow
Foolow – Housley – Castlegate Farm – Wardlow – Cressbrook Dale – Wardlow Mires – Housley – FoolowDistance: Approximately 6 miles This walk starts in Foolow, from where you walk by the side of the road, taking the right fork, and proceed to Housley at the junction with the A623. With extreme care, cross the main road and go over a stile indicated by a footpath sign at the side of Housley House. Follow the path across fields and stiles and around to the right of a wood by the side of Castlegate Farm, then continue to a lane. In medieval times there was an important transport route through the heart of Derbyshire which was known as The Portway, leading from Derby to Bradwell and possibly beyond. It was the ancient equivalent of the M1 and would have been used by trains of packhorses, carts and travellers on foot. This route linked many of the hillforts and strongholds that existed at that time including Fin Cop near Ashford and Burrs Mount near Great Hucklow. One of the main strongholds on the route was Ashford Castle, as this stood at an important crossing of the River Wye, where many other paths and tracks converged. All remains of the castle have long since gone, but the route of the Portway beyond Ashford and on to Wardlow is still known by some as Castlegate, and this name also appears in the title of farms, houses and fields including Castlegate Farm, Castle Cliff Dale and Castle Cliff Top. Turn right and walk down the lane to a junction then turn left. Follow this back road until just after a further junction where you will see a stile on your left. Go through the gate opposite, being on your right, into a field. Walk straight down, keeping slightly to the left. You are now walking down the line of White Rake which can easily be defined by the number of hillocks, mounds, hollows and capped mine shafts going in a virtual straight line from Wardlow directly over the hill to Coombs Dale. White Rake was often the name given where the ore excavated was of lead and zinc sulphides that had been oxidised to the following carbonates – Cerrussite (lead carbonate) and Smithsonite (zinc carbonate, commonly known as calamine) Cerrusite was used in paint. Follow the path towards Wardlow, crossing old stone stiles. Notice how many long narrow fields head away from the village. These were the first fields to be enclosed around Wardlow, probably dating back to medieval times. The more rectangular or square fields beyond being enclosed in the 18th and early 19th centuries. You will emerge onto Wardlow’s only street – this is a linear village constructed in a straight line which follows the road, unlike Foolow which was established around a central water source. Turn left and head past the small village church which was built in 1873. Notice the stocks at the side. Walk towards the dip in the road where the large building on the left was formerly a 17th century coaching inn known as the Bulls Head which unfortunately called time for the last time in the 1990’s. As the road begins to climb you should see a footpath indicated on the right which is known locally as The Pingle. This heads along a narrow path leading to a track by the side of Wardlow Hay Cop and to the edge of a steep bank from where there are spectacular views of the valley below and over towards Litton in the distance. Cross the stile and descend the path bearing right and dropping down into the valley. Although care is required, the path is well used and has had steps introduced in places. You will come to a fenced off area which marks the exit of Wardlow sough. This is a good example of a sough made by the miners themselves as opposed to engineers. It was driven along the ‘sole’ or bottom level of a vein of lead ore. Turn right and head up the bottom of the dale. You will come to an amazing stack of rock reminiscent of Monument Valley in America but on a very small scale. This is Peter Stone or Gibbet Rock. The name Peter Stone probably derived from its similarity to the dome of St Peter’s Basilica in Rome, whilst Gibbet Rock has more grisly connotations. In the coaching days of the 19th century there was a toll gate across the turnpike road at Wardlow Mires. In the Toll House lived Hannah Oliver, a 70-year old widow. On January 15 1815 she was strangled and her death made to somehow look like suicide. The murderer had reportedly stolen Hannah’s shoes and given them to his girlfriend. This however was to be his downfall and lead to the capture of 21-year old Anthony Linguard who was found guilty of Hannah’s murder and consequently hanged at Derby for his crime. Linguard’s body was brought back to Wardlow on a cart then set up on a gibbet atop of Peter Stone where crowds gathered from far and wide and stalls selling refreshments and curios did a roaring trade. The strange thing was that on January 15 1815 another foul murder reputedly took place that same night but in Yorkshire. Another old lady was murdered at a toll gate and it transpires that she was Hannah’s sister! Many people protested with disgust at the barbaric practice of gibbeting Anthony Linguard and hanging him in chains on the rock which resulted in an end to this ghoulish ritual. It is said that the cost of the hanging was £126 9s 5d which included a bill of £85 4s for the erection of the gibbet. Another local criminal who was gibbeted there was the highwayman known as Black Harry. Continue up the dale until you reach Wardlow Mires where you will go through a gate and pass in front of a cottage. With extreme care cross the main road and head towards the little Three Stags Head inn which was formerly the Devonshire Arms. This main road was the Chapel-en-le-Frith to Chesterfield turnpike of 1759 and there was a small tollhouse and bar on the northern side of the road. When the road from Wirksworth was laid and linked with this one, a prehistoric burial mound was found near the village which contained 17 internments in stone cists. Just past the pub you turn left into a farmyard and follow the indicated signs taking you around the buildings. You now head up the fields towards Stanley House on the horizon. It is thought that the Portway mentioned earlier followed this route to Burr Mount and on towards Brough. There is conjecture however that it went further over to the north-west and on past Portway Mine thereby leading to Mam Tor. In the field before Stanley House you should go diagonally across to the right to a stile in the corner. Now cross fields and stiles heading towards Brosterfield Farm. Over to your right are the remains of the Water Grove Lead Mine. This was worked in the 18th and 19th centuries, closing down in 1853. As with many mines it was plagued with flooding and by 1740 three soughs had been driven in an attempt to alleviate the problem, however the Watergrove Sough did not reach the mine until 1770. By 1800 two pumping engines had been erected, the first was in use around 1748. Some local residents can still remember the 80 feet high square chimney stack which was built for a Fairbairn beam engine in 1837. It was a prominent landmark until its demolition in 1960. Any underground water is now pumped to Cavendish Mill near Stoney Middleton. Just beyond Water Grove on the opposite side of the road there was a small isolation hospital in the mid 20th century. Follow the path across fields and stiles then pass by the side of Brosterfield Farm and along the driveway. At the end turn left to return to Foolow. |
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